Hi All,

I wanted to see if I could get some advise on low-beams for my 1986 F250. AFIK, the truck is bone stock. These are my low-beam lights. They are amber on the plate and they do work. The problem is they are useless. I can't see anything at night with them. They look like the interior lights in my RV. Can anyone comment on this? Should I be using something else or did something get modified?

Thanks,

h.ubk

 

I was never a fan of LED’s on any vehicle observing them from afar. I never liked the look of them, particularly on a classic vehicle. I’m an original equipment type of guy. Until I recently bought a truck with them already installed. They look awesome, they are incredibly bright. Low and high. I’m a huge fan of them now. I highly recommend them, you won’t be disappointed.

 

Huh? You totally lost me. The round globe bulb you’re holding? That’s the front marker and turn signal bulb. It should have two filaments in it as seen here:




Your low beams are part of the big rectangular headlights. Each of those lamps also has two filaments. Those big glass units are sealed beams, meaning when a filament fails, you replace the whole thing.

If your headlights only illuminate with high beams selected, there are a couple of likely culprits.

1) The low beam filament in each headlight has burned out.

2) The dimmer switch has failed and only works in the high beam position.

 

Well, these are actually NOT your low beams, but the combined running/clearance and turn signals lamps. The dim light you see is supposed to be dim cause again it ain't no headlight!

In that picture with the bulb lit, that black plastic connector with the black, red, and light green wires, that's for both your low and high beams. The big glass lamps you see on the front of the truck are combined low and high beams assemblies, inside them there are two coils just like in the bulb you got on your hand, only much brighter.

Low beams get used all the time, highs nor so much, so naturally usually the low beam coils burn out first - it's rare for both sides to go at the same time, my guess is one died first and the at the time owner of the truck just kept driving on the other one till it went too, at which point he didn't bother to do anything about it.

Any parts store will have these lamps, they are sealed units so you replace the whole thing. Personally I'm a big fan of the Euro-pattern ("E-code") lamps cause they offer both a better light spread on the road and their bulbs are replaceable separate from the housing, however those you'll have to order online and strictly speaking they're only legal for use on motorcycles but not on larger vehicles (unless the law has changed in the last few years) if that matters to you.

 

Get a headlight relay kit while you're at it.
it will make those stock lights much better.
I dont like aftermarket headlights. Usually ppl dont align them correctly, they don't diffuse right and probably not dot approved.

 

Yeah I was going to say that light looks orange? Which doesn't seem right at all.

 

I was gonna mention the relays but then forgot, yes definitely a great idea that.

Aftermarket headlights are very hit or miss. The E-code type stuff is what the OEMs used on eastern side of the Atlantic, perfectly legal and working very well. Better than the USDOT versions cause no stupid requirement to scatter light upwards to illuminate overhead traffic signs. The quality of the particular lamp does depend on the manufacturer, but that's the same deal in the US with the DOT-compliant lamps too.

As far as LEDs go, TruckLite and Grote have to follow federal regulations to sell their stuff to the trucking industry so I'd imagine theirs are solid. Cheap Chinese stuff, anyone's guess what standards (if any) they comply with.

 

Thanks for the replies. I just ordered LED lights since I may as well upgrade them if I am getting new bulbs.

h.ubk

 

For the head lights or the turn / parking lights?
I would not do LED head lights, the beam pattern is not good on the cheap ones and the good ones are a few hundred that most do not want to spend the money on. As for them for turn / park you may need to change out the flasher to use LED bulbs and note the LED have to be the same color as the lens it is behind them or they are not bright or the right color.

The top big square lights are head lights, halogen bulbs from the parts store. Yes I am running relays and it made them really bright.
The yellow lights below are turn / park lights normal 1157 bulbs from the parts store.
The driving / fog lights in the bumper , custom added by me, are halogen bulbs. The kit came with relays, wiring and switch for fog / driving.
I use normal 1157 bulbs in the tail lights and are also bright.
Dave ----

 

Get the Hella E-code lights, much better than the DOT standard lights these trucks come with. Night and day difference, with none of the drawbacks of LED retrofits.
https://smile.amazon.com/HELLA-00342...e%2C138&sr=1-1

 

I have to agree on not doing the LED lights but to each their own. I run the original glass sealed beams also and don’t have any problems at night. Plus I don’t like the look of the LEDS. At Ford truck shows they stick out like a sore thumb but again that’s just my opinion.

 

I also run stock head lights and added cheap led lights on my push bar that come on when my brights are illuminated . .No problems here and on the dark country roads I see great! TR

 

Is this what y'all mean by a headlight relay kit:
https://www.lmctruck.com/1980-96-for...dlight-harness

I don't see any documentation that goes with it.

 

Yes , I use them , it takes the high amperage away from the head lift switch ! My purchase was from jeffs bronco graveyard ! TR

 

Here are my thoughts on the headlight situation. I'm into the "throwback" feel of my truck, so I use halogens, the original radio and all that stuff. Halogens and any filament based light will get slightly dimmer over time. These trucks were designed for halogens, so make sure you have halogens. Get a step up from the low end halogens. I use Sylvania Xtravisions, which are middle. Sylvania Silver Stars are probably the brightest and cost the most, about $25 each locally currently. Go ahead and get the relay kit - the one from LMC works fine. IF you use this. make sure all of your wires are seated fully in the plugs and everywhere. I had a wire come loose and light was flickering. Just a matter of plugging it in more fully. The harness is chinese and the quality is about as expected. It works but isn't the best components. And apparently the relays aren't a "standard" relay. I guess a good thing is if the harness fails away from home, you can unplug it and go back to the stock til you can fix it. It is worth the upgrade though and an easy install.

Also check your aim. Lots of years have passed and many owners of many trucks - some folks change the head light by unscrewing any and everything attached to the headlight - this includes messing up the aim of the lights. Go to a level place with a white wall (side lot of the parts store?); at dusk works well. Turn your lights on and aim them to where you want them. You can look up proper aim if you want. I might have mine a little higher than the OEM aim, but I don't get flashed and they work well on low and high.